Breakfast al Fresco. A breakfast al fresco is just the thing to entertain a party of young girls. Have the tables on the porch. At each plate have a cluster of flowers answering a conundrum. Give each girl a card containing the conundrum and ask her to find her place at the table by the flower answering the questions. These ques- tions will not be hard for a hostess to arrange and will of course depend on the flowers she can secure. Breakfasts and Teas 43 Here are a few sample ones given at a recent break- fast: Who will attend our next entertainment? Phlox. What happened when Gladys lost her hat in the lake? A yellow rose (a yell arose). What paper gives the most help in decoration? Justicia (just tissue). What will the Far North do for you? Freesia. For what hour were you invited? Four o'clock. What is the handsomest woman in the world? American Beauty. Use pink and green for the color scheme and add a little touch of these two colors to everything served. Tie the skewers of the chops with pink and green ribbons and have the ice cream one layer of pistachio and one of strawberry. 44 Breakfasts and Teas CHAPTER v. The Modern "Five O'clock." "A cup she designates as mine With motion of her dainty finger; The kettle boils — oh ! drink divine, In memory shall thy fragrance linger!" Although indebted to England for the afternoon tea, it is a very informal affair across the water. It doubtless originated in suburban homes, where dur- ing the hunting and holiday seasons, large and merry house-parties are entertained for weeks together. Re- turning late from driving or field sports the tired guests require some light refreshment before making their toilets for the evening dinner. The English hostess very sensibly meets this claim upon her hos- pitality by serving tea and biscuit in library or draw- ing-room. From this small beginning comes the American "Five O'Clock," one of the prettiest of all social functions, and still smiled upon by Dame Fashion as a favorite method of entertaining. Decorative in character, it gives opportunity to display the treasures of porcelain, glass, silver, embroidered napery and all the lovely table-appointments that everywhere de- light the heart of woman. More exquisite than ever before are the little tea-tables — a succession of crescent shaped shelves, rising one above the other, two, three or four in number, as the taste inclines. Upon these, resting on cobwebs of linen or lace, are placed the Breakfasts and Teas 45 priceless cups, tiny spoons, graceful caddy and all other articles necessary to the service. The silver caddy is now a thing of sentiment as well as use — one recently bestowed as a bridal gift bearing engraved upon it this little verse: "We sit and sip — the time flies fast, My cup needs filling, — project clever! She comes and I grown bold at last Say 'Darling, make my tea forever!'" In the future of married life, how sweet this re- minder of the past, when all the days were golden in the light of love, youth and hope! Another couplet pretty and suggestive is found in "A cup and a welcome for everyone, And a corner for you and me."

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Breakfast al Fresco. A breakfast al fresco is just the thing to entertain a party of young girls. Have the tables on the porch. At each plate have a cluster of flowers answering a conundrum. Give each girl a card containing the conundrum and ask her to find her place at the table by the flower answering the questions. These questions will not be hard for a hostess to arrange and will of course depend on the flowers she can secure. Breakfasts and Teas 43 Here are a few sample ones given at a recent breakfast: Who will attend our next entertainment? Phlox. What happened when Gladys lost her hat in the lake? A yellow rose (a yell arose). What paper gives the most help in decoration? Justicia (just tissue). What will the Far North do for you? Freesia. For what hour were you invited? Four o'clock. What is the handsomest woman in the world? American Beauty. Use pink and green for the color scheme and add a little touch of these two colors to everything served. Tie the skewers of the chops with pink and green ribbons and have the ice cream one layer of pistachio and one of strawberry. 44 Breakfasts and Teas CHAPTER v. The Modern "Five O'clock." "A cup she designates as mine With motion of her dainty finger; The kettle boils — oh ! drink divine, In memory shall thy fragrance linger!" Although indebted to England for the afternoon tea, it is a very informal affair across the water. It doubtless originated in suburban homes, where during the hunting and holiday seasons, large and merry house-parties are entertained for weeks together. Returning late from driving or field sports the tired guests require some light refreshment before making their toilets for the evening dinner. The English hostess very sensibly meets this claim upon her hospitality by serving tea and biscuit in library or drawing-room. From this small beginning comes the American "Five O'Clock," one of the prettiest of all social functions, and still smiled upon by Dame Fashion as a favorite method of entertaining. Decorative in character, it gives opportunity to display the treasures of porcelain, glass, silver, embroidered napery and all the lovely table-appointments that everywhere delight the heart of woman. More exquisite than ever before are the little tea-tables — a succession of crescent shaped shelves, rising one above the other, two, three or four in number, as the taste inclines. Upon these, resting on cobwebs of linen or lace, are placed the Breakfasts and Teas 45 priceless cups, tiny spoons, graceful caddy and all other articles necessary to the service. The silver caddy is now a thing of sentiment as well as use — one recently bestowed as a bridal gift bearing engraved upon it this little verse: "We sit and sip — the time flies fast, My cup needs filling, — project clever! She comes and I grown bold at last Say 'Darling, make my tea forever!'" In the future of married life, how sweet this reminder of the past, when all the days were golden in the light of love, youth and hope! Another couplet pretty and suggestive is found in "A cup and a welcome for everyone, And a corner for you and me."

Breakfasts and teas